2015 Peugeot 308 R Hybrid Review

Although the Peugeot 308 R Hybrid is only a idea automobile, it’s fairly wonderful how shortly this efficiency hybrid stuff has begun to trickle down from hypercars to excessive-quantity autos. With a mixed output of 500 horsepower between a fuel engine and two electrical motors, the 308 Hybrid R has as a lot energy as a 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS, and Peugeot might see one of these hybrid expertise as a key to retaking its place on prime of the very aggressive French sizzling-hatch phase.

2015 Peugeot 308 R Hybrid Review

Peugeot dominated the European scorching-hatch scene within the Nineties with automobiles just like the 205 GTi and 106 Rallye. Incredible automobiles by the accounts of our (older) counterparts in Europe, however then the corporate determined to refocus its efforts on constructing uninteresting folks-transferring home equipment that attraction extra to accountants than Juha Kankkunen wannabes (In case that reference is a bit too obscure, Kankkunen gained the WRC in a Peugeot 205 T16 in 1986). Since then, French compatriot rival Renault has turn out to be the go-to purveyor of quick, French hatchbacks. The query now could be, can hybrid powertrains assist Peugeot take again a style it helped outline?

Exterior Interior 2015 Peugeot 308 R Hybrid

Stylistically, the Peugeot 308 R Hybrid is a barely angrier, bluer evolution of the 308 R Idea from 2013 . It retains the earlier idea’s blistered wheel arches, that are stuffed out by 19-inch wheels, augmenting its low, aggressive stance.

The brand new entrance fascia will get bigger, extra-stylized air intakes framed by what Peugeot describes as a “white ceramic-look materials.” There’s additionally a brand new checker patterned grill and sizable “308 R” lettering on the decrease grill. The rear half of the 308 R Hybrid is painted matte black, and its additionally the place you’ll discover a new rear fascia that echoes the entrance, with a small rear diffuser and single exhaust exit on the proper.

Regardless of all of the nifty additions, it’s onerous to cover the bottom 308’s tubby proportions. It’s a pretty big (by European requirements) and never significantly good-trying household 5 door. It looks like an odd place to begin for a efficiency hatchback, particularly when there’s the newer, and arguably higher-trying 208.

Inside, the very first thing you discover are the bolstered sport seats, which Peugeot says are completed in a fawn-coloured patinated leather-based, however in footage, they’ve an nearly copper look that harks again to Peugeot’s 2012 Onyx idea automobile and its copper bodywork.

The sprint and door panels are lined with a cloth Peugeot says is created utilizing a “digital weaving approach,” and claims this new materials can be utilized to trend extra complicated components and eliminates the necessity for foam, which reduces weight.

The remainder of the inside appears just about manufacturing prepared. The perforated leather-based steering wheel is compact, with two paddles mounted behind controlling the six-velocity gearbox. There’s additionally a head-up show to assist preserve your eyes on the highway, and two buttons within the middle console that management drivetrain settings, which brings us to…

Drivetrain 2015 Peugeot 308 R Hybrid

Right here’s the place issues get actually fascinating. Main energy comes from a 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder producing 270 horsepower — a hair-elevating displacement-to-energy ratio, even for a turbocharged engine. An electrical motor is mounted to every axle, every producing a hundred and fifteen hp. Each the inner combustion engine and the entrance electrical motor (which may additionally perform as a generator) drive the entrance wheels by way of a six-velocity gearbox, whereas the rear motor sends energy on to the axle.

To make room for the three kWh Lithium-ion battery, Peugeot Sport engineers moved the gasoline tank from below the rear seats to the trunk space above the rear motor. Weight distribution is 60/forty, entrance to rear. It’s prone to be a heavy car, however regardless of that, the dash to sixty two mph (one hundred km/h) is dispatched in simply 4 seconds. Prime velocity is electronically restricted to a hundred and fifty five mph (250 km/h), and the standing kilometer is accomplished in 22 seconds.

4 energy modes can be found. Sizzling Lap mode makes full use of all the drivetrain to make the headline determine of 500 horsepower and 539 pound-toes of torque. The entrance electrical motor kicks in beneath acceleration for an additional increase when exiting corners. Monitor mode works much like Sizzling Lap mode, however reduces energy to four hundred. Street Mode is extra civilized and solely makes use of the interior combustion engine and rear electrical motor. Lastly, ZEV makes use of simply the electrical motors, and since the 308 R Hybrid is a plug-in automobile, this mode can be utilized nearly solely should you park close to a wall outlet.

Price 2015 Peugeot 308 R Hybrid

If the upper ups at Peugeot determined to shock the world and inexperienced gentle the 308 R Hybrid for manufacturing tomorrow, we might estimate a value someplace north of $60,000, or roughly 3 times the 308’s base price in Europe. Whereas we don’t count on that to occur, there’s an excellent probability we’ll see a extra moderately priced hybrid sizzling-hatch from Peugeot quickly.